Bars & Nightlife

Bars & Nightlife

Bars & Nightlife

Ghent

Provided byStad Gent/Visit Gent

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Bars & NightlifeGuide was updated: 17 septembrie 2024

The best night life can be found in Ghent. The thousands of students, lively atmosphere and cool music scene make Ghent the ideal destination for a night out. At the Oude Beestenmarkt, you will be tripping over trendy places to go. De Vlasmarkt is a meeting place for real night owls. De Overpoort is where you will find the students and where you can party until late the next the morning.

‘t Dreupelkot

‘t Dreupelkot

Small brown jenever cafe chez Pol, located in one of the nicest spots in Ghent. In this little pub you can choose from more than 200 kinds of Belgian jenevers, more known in Ghent as ‘dreupels’.

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Afsnis

Afsnis

Cozy cafe where you can enjoy a chat. The place to be for beer lovers and a legendary spot in Ghent.

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Bar Jan Cremer

Bar Jan Cremer

This coffee bar and hotspot with a wood interior and a sunny terrace – just a stone’s throw from Overpoort – serves bagels and gestreken mastellen (‘ironed buns’) with coffee or a cool pint. A go-to spot for students.

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Café Den Turk

Café Den Turk

The oldest café in Ghent with a beautiful brown interior and some of that typical Ghent arrogance, known for pouring the best draught beers in Ghent. Whiskies, cognacs and sandwiches ‘mee uufflakke’. The regular haunt of many local councillors who go and enjoy a pint there after council meetings. This 15th-century house was built during the same period as Sint-Jorishof around the corner. The Den Turk house was the base of the young St George’s guild (Sint-Jorisgilde). The façade is made of sand lime, which was often used for prestigious buildings in 15th- and 16th-century Ghent. The popular café Den Turk claims to be the oldest café in Ghent, and many councillors and civil servants like to pop in for a drink after their council meetings.

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Café de Zoo

Café de Zoo

Cocktail bar — lounge cafe linked to restaurant “De Acht Zaligheden”.

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Charlatan

Charlatan

Popular nightlife and music café, the epicentre of the Ghent nightlife scene. The place to dance the night away during the weekend; free performances on Thursdays and Sundays; open till the wee hours; large indoor and smokers’ terrace (weather permitting) and so much more… Also known as the “House of Perdition”.

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De Geus van Gent

De Geus van Gent

Beautiful cafe at the “Geuzenhuis” with a lounge area and a peculiar rounded ceiling where you can enjoy a chat; meeting place for liberal people (whether they share the same views or not) with a waterside terrace.

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Dulle Griet

Dulle Griet

“Brown cafe” in an old, beautiful medieval interior decorated with cartwheels. This cafe offers the largest beer selection in Ghent: more than 500 local and international beers. Exchange your shoe for a Max beer poured in a bootshaped glass. But don’t worry, you will get it back afterwards.

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Folklore

Folklore

One of the last real brown cafes in the heart of Ghent where owner Jacques has been doing whatever he pleases for the past three decades. Your drinks are served with cooked eggs on the side, following an old tradition. Building dating back to 1667 that has known quite a few historical owners, filled with stories and decorated with chamber pots on the ceiling. Jukebox with six catchy tunes for 1 euro.

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Galgenhuisje

Galgenhuisje

What is now the smallest cafe in Ghent, used to be the tripe house, where less well-off people could purchase entrails. Because of hygienic reasons these could not be sold in the Butchers' Hall itself. The name of the cafe, however, refers to the function of the rear side. Condemned men and women waited there for the execution of their sentences. 18th-century “brown cafe”, the smallest in Ghent, which has been a cafe non-stop since 1776. The terrace is larger than the cafe. Two basement halls for parties, also larger than the actual cafe.

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Gloria

Gloria

Popular night-time cafe located in a basement run by two fun owners, the chubby buddies Igor and Bert. Every month the window is decorated with controversial, satirical quotes by Igor, one of the owners.

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Gruut

Gruut

The Gruut Brewery is one of the rare breweries to use a mix of spices, known as gruut, instead of the traditional hops. Although this brewery uses modern technology it brews its beers in keeping with the ancient traditions. Currently Gruut produces five beers: a white beer, a blonde, an amber beer, a brown beer and a beer called Inferno. A group visit to the brewery ends – of course – with a tasting session. Cheers!

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Hasta Mañana

Hasta Mañana

Pub with Art Deco interior & Latin vibes.

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Het Spijker

Het Spijker

Brown cafe frequented by youngsters. *Has a very popular joint summer terrace with the cafe next door, ‘’t Gouden Mandeke”.

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Het Trappistenhuis

Het Trappistenhuis

Brown beer pub where you can enjoy a chat; owned by a beer expert. More than 170 Belgian specialty beers, according to someone who’s tasted them all.

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Hot Club Gent

Hot Club Gent

Very well hidden jazz bar with a southern feel and a small indoor terrace in a narrow side alley of Groentenmarkt.

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Hotsy Totsy

Hotsy Totsy

Pub with a glorious past and a beautiful decor. The ideal place to have a chat. Known for its poetry readings, conferences, stand-up comedy, cabaret and jazz concerts. Founded by the Claus brothers; in 1984 it was the backdrop for the presentation of the novel ‘Het Verdriet van België (The Sorrow of Belgium)’. Pool table and many party games. Jazz, variety shows and chansons.

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Jigger’s

Jigger’s

Timeless cocktailbar. A weekly changing drinksmenu. Ask for your favourite classic or allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised with a mix of homemade products.

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Kinky Star

Kinky Star

Alternative music and nightlife caft known for its Irish coffees. Notably, the home base of Ghent’s Kinky Star record label. Check out their weekly performances; usually there are also DJs.

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Limonada

Limonada

Cocktail bar with retrofuturistic 'Clockwork Orange' lounge interior. Electro and lounge music is played.

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Marimain

Marimain

This cafe next to the Minard theatre is frequented by regulars and students. It has the most popular terrace in Ghent, from where you can admire and rate passers-by. The name 'Marimain' is inspired by the previous owner, Mary Brouillard, and Ghent-born comedian Romain Deconinck.

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Minor Swing

Minor Swing

Small, but cosy brown jazz bar serving good wines and whiskies with a small but very popular terrace. *Features a piano. Regular jazz performances.

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Polé Polé

Polé Polé

In this Polé Polé bar you will find a mixture of tropical music and an authentic African decoration. Afro-latin-southern.

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Rococo

Rococo

An intimate bar in the style of a cosy drawing room, perfect for a tête-à-tête entirely by candlelight or a chat with Betty, the fiery landlady, at the bar. This is not the place for downing pints; instead enjoy a preserved sausage or a Liqueur d’Amour. There are live piano recitals whenever anyone with talent is in the mood to play. The bar also opens on demand in the daytime for groups, meetings and private parties.

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Trollekelder

Trollekelder

Brown beer pub with a 15th-century basement where you can enjoy a quiet, intimate chat. *Here you can’t order a normal pint, only top-quality Belgian specialty beers!

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Vooruit Café

Vooruit Café

Large cultural chit-chat cafe and eatery with an Art Deco interior; originally the heart of Ghent’s socialist movement. Cultural temple for theatre, concerts, dance and parties. Many organic and/or fair-trade products and a veggie daily special.

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Waterhuis aan de Bierkant

Waterhuis aan de Bierkant

“Brown pub”, very popular among beer lovers and tourists; take a seat at the bar! Pick one of the 165 beers on the menu, including three house beers: Gandavum, Klokke Roeland and Mammelokker. Jazz, blues and oldies played.

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